RAINING CHUMP
Jenson Button blows it in Brazil downpour
PhotosJENSON BUTTON blew a golden chance to take a massive step towards title glory after a tropical storm in Brazil.
The Brawn GP ace will start today's grand prix back in 14th place with team-mate and his major rival Rubens Barrichello scorching to pole in front of his home fans.
Button opted not to switch to intermediate tyres when the rain-lashed conditions that had turned qualifying into a dangerous farce finally eased.
And that meant the Brit bombed out in a second session that was delayed by 71 minutes.
Button, 29, blasted: "I'm p***** off! That was a terrible qualifying for me. I'm very disappointed.
"I have got title rival Sebastian Vettel a couple of places behind me but Rubens is on pole. It is not good. I will have to fight in the race. I don't want to be picking up just a couple of points.
"I want more than that. I just want to get the title done as soon as possible. Sooner rather than later. I hope it is a dry race. At least there are places to overtake here and I will have to do that.
"We made a mistake not putting inters on at the end. But it's all of our decision, it's a team effort."
Barrichello trails Button by 14 points and needs to close the gap by five to take the title race down to the final showdown in Abu Dhabi in two weeks' time.
But the Brazilian kept his hopes alive as he squeaked through the second session on full wets and took top spot after an incredible 2hrs and 43mins - the longest qualifying session in F1 history.
Barrichello, 37, said: "We were borderline in Q2 and we should have gone to intermediates. We just made it in 10th place. But I am keeping my feet on the ground. I will race as hard as I can to try and win and then just see where Jenson finishes.
"You would have thought it was impossible I'd start on pole and Jenson would be 14th but the rain played into my hands."
Barrichello, who was watched by his whole family, added: "It was an incredible session.
"You never knew what was going to happen.
"We may have less fuel but it is better to start from the front and have your own pace. I am very happy with the situation and it is great that all the people stayed to watch.
"They went through a heavy period of rain."
Team chief Ross Brawn said: "We thought the wets would hold up and they didn't.
"We were lucky with Rubens, but not with Jenson. It was a poor call in the end.
"We thought it was about not making a mistake but perhaps we were too conservative."
Red Bull ace Vettel was eliminated in the first session after he was caught out just as the rain suddenly got worse.
That made it impossible for him to get into the top 15 to progress to the next session.
Vettel ripped off his steering wheel and tossed it on to his car as team chief Christian Horner shook his head on the pit wall.
The German has to win to stand any chance of overturning a 16-point deficit on Button. He said: "I think I went to the pool not the racetrack today. Obviously it's disappointing.
"There was a window where the circuit was quickest and we couldn't use it.
"Now I can only hope the race will be as crazy as qualifying and the rain will wash us to a better position. But we will go out for the race with a knife between our teeth."
Button had been forced to kick his heels for well over an hour after the second session was halted when Force India's Tonio Liuzzi crashed.
The Italian bounced off the pit wall and slammed into a tyre barrier losing three wheels, forcing officials to red flag qualifying for the second time.
The track was inspected three times before race director Charlie Whiting gave the all clear for qualifying to restart.
F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone admitted: "If we didn't run again, it would have been a big confusion how to sort the grid out."
The first session was only four minutes old when it was halted after Ferrari's Giancarlo Fisichella skidded to a halt at turn two.
The Italian, 36, who won a bizarre rain-hit race in Brazil in 2003, blasted: "It's impossible to drive. Crazy."
Lewis Hamilton also skidded out at turn four and could finish only 18th.
He said: "The conditions were awful, but, wow, our car was terrible."
QUALIFYING POISTIONS
1. Rubens Barrichello (Brazil) Brawn - Mercedes 1min 19.576. 2. Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 1:19.668. 3. Adrian Sutil (Germany) Force India-Mercedes 1:19.912. 4. Jarno Trulli (Italy) Toyota 1:20.097 5. Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Ferrari 1:20.168 6. Sebastien Buemi (Switzerland) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:20.250 7. Nico Rosberg (Germany) Williams - Toyota 1:20.326 8. Robert Kubica (Poland) BMW Sauber 1:20.631 9. Kazuki Nakajima (Japan) Williams - Toyota 1:20.674 10. Fernando Alonso (Spain) Renault 1:21.422 11. Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Toyota 1:21.960 12. Jaime Alguersuari (Spain) Toro Rosso-Ferrari 1:22.231 13. Romain Grosjean (France) Renault 1:22.477 14. Jenson Button (Britain) Brawn - Mercedes 1:22.504 15. Vitantonio Liuzzi (Italy) Force India-Mercedes 16. Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull - Renault 1:25.009 17. Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) McLaren - Mercedes 1:25.052 18. Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren - Mercedes 1:25.192 19. Nick Heidfeld (Germany) BMW Sauber 1:25.515 20. Giancarlo Fisichella (Italy) Ferrari 1:40.703
This article has 6 comments
Now he's World Champ you look like World Chumps. Idiots.
By Ken. Posted October 19 2009 at 3:29 AM.
Why are people always the same in this country always have to bitch and moan and put people down could you do the job he does??? I doubt it even with the money he is paid
Button will do as he says he will do every race the best he can
If he wins then good for him but like was previously said here he will be slated no matter what he does because no one seems to like someone who tries and who gives it their best
By Cat. Posted October 18 2009 at 1:03 PM.
I really do feel sorry for Button, even if he wins the championship he will be slated, if he doesn't he will be demolished, talk of a rock and a hard place.
By Red. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:06 PM.
I watched it yesterday, I could not believe what a mess Jenson made of qualifying. World Champion? What a joke.
By Mari. Posted October 18 2009 at 12:23 PM.
button only won the first races of the season by default,he was all smiles then ,now he's a whingeing looser.he would be the worst champion in history.
By phil sidey. Posted October 18 2009 at 7:24 AM.
Button has to be the most overrated F1 driver for years. I bet he flops in the race too. What a disappointing champ Jensen would make if Rubens crashes out. So embarrassing to have a winner who is a loser.
By Keith Price. Posted October 18 2009 at 2:49 AM.